Sarasota Florida Location

I am located in Sarasota, Florida, but have clients throughout the United States. I can communicate with you in whatever manner you are comfortable, whether by phone, fax, email, in person, or even via video conference. Contact me to arrange an appointment for your personalized insurance quotes.

My resident insurance license is for the state of Florida, however I can and already do service clients in states other than Florida. If I don’t already have a specific state non-residence license, I can generally acquire one relatively quickly depending on the state.

Medicare Part A - The Benefit Periods and Deductibles

Did you know that Medicare Part A deductibles are different than most health insurance deductibles? Rather only being charge once a year like most health or other insurance deductibles, Part A deductibles are charged for each benefit period rather than for the entire year.

What is a Part A benefit period?

A benefit period is the way the Original Medicare Part A measures your use of inpatient hospital and skilled nursing facility services. It begins the day that you enter a hospital or skilled nursing facility and ends when you have not received inpatient hospital or Medicare covered skilled care in a skilled nursing facility for 60 days in a row. The benefit period is not tied to the calendar year.

You must meet your Part A deductible at the beginning of each benefit period as well as pay a daily coinsurance depending on how many days you stay at the hospital or skilled nursing facility during one benefit period.

If you go into the hospital or skilled nursing facility after one benefit period has ended (more than 60 days after you left), then a new benefit period begins and you are responsible to pay for a new deductible. There is no limit to the number of benefit periods you can have, or how long a benefit period can be.

Example: One benefit period could actually span more than one hospitalization. Imagine you are in the hospital for a short stay and then you’re released. Then a few days later you you need to go back into the hospital. Your benefit period would still in effect. In this particular situation, you would be charged just one deductible.

Lifetime Reserve Days

In Original Medicare, these are additional days that Medicare will pay for when you're in a hospital for more than 90 days. You have a total of 60 reserve days that can be used during your lifetime. For each lifetime reserve day, Medicare pays all covered costs except for a daily coinsurance.1

Medicare Advantage plans set their own cost sharing terms.

So if you are on a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan may or may not charge deductibles for hospital stays depending on your specific plan. Some plans may charge a flat amount per hospitalization up to a set number of days. Other plans may charge a copay or coinsurance amount for each day in the hospital. Call the member services phone number on the back of your plan member ID card to find out details specific to your plan.

Note: Medicare Insurance information can be overwhelming and confusing to many people. As an independent licensed agent I can explain things to you in simple terms so you feel comfortable making a decision. Then I can help you choose and enroll in a plan that you feel fits your needs.

By the way, it doesn’t cost you any more if you enroll in a Medicare Insurance plan through me as an independent agent versus directly with an insurance company either over the phone or via the Internet, since I get paid by the insurance companies for your enrollment. Plus you will have personalized service by a local agent. If you would like my assistance, please call me at 941-404-5334.

By calling this number, I understand I will be directed to a licensed insurance sales agent.